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Brethren, Church History is OUR History! ——————————————————- Exerpted from Our Church Speaks: “The glory of God is a human being fully alive; and to be alive consists in beholding God.” - Irenaeus of Lyons (130-202), Bishop of Lyons and Teacher of the Faith Irenaeus is a critical link between the apostolic church and the Christian theologians of the second and third centuries. As a boy, he studied under Polycarp, the disciple of the Apostle John. He completed further study in Rome and was appointed to serve as the bishop of Lyons. Lyons had proven to be a dangerous region for Christians and many believers had already suffered martyrdom, including Saint Blandina and her companions and the predecessor in Irenaeus’ office. As bishop, Irenaeus thoroughly defended the Christian faith from Gnostic teachers who sought to undermine scripture’s teachings on the nature of Christ. He is considered the first great theologian of the church, after the age of the Apostles. His works quote from 24 of the 27 New Testament books, demonstrating that the canonical New Testament Scriptures were a vital part of the Christian imagination, from the earliest years of the church. Irenaeus gave his life for Christ at the beginning of the 3rd century, martyred probably during the persecution of Emperor Septimius Severus. #irenaeus #irenaeusoflyons #churchfathers #patristics #ourchurchspeaks #churchhistory #artbybenlansing #bookofcommonprayer #saintquotes #saint
We need COMMUNITY! 🙌 Not a week goes by without at least two or three people sharing with me some variation of the statement, this grace journey is great...but lonely. And honestly, I get it. Ive felt it too. Content is WONDERFUL, but its no substitute for real, genuine, heartfelt COMMUNITY. Having had the courage to step out of the confines of legalistic, performance-driven religion, the isolation that often accompanies that can feel disorienting. BUT NOT ANYMORE!  GAN Plus is a new interactive membership community built around weekly LIVE events. It’s designed to create real connection, consistent spiritual growth, and a sense of belonging. What do I get with membership? ● Multiple weekly live teachings & Q&A with trusted speakers ● Weekly live prayer gatherings ● Round table conversations on timely topics ● Special virtual events throughout the year ● Full replay access to past live events ● Member-only community space GAN Plus isn’t just content. It’s connection. You’re not watching a stream or scrolling a feed — you’re showing up and participating in real time with others who are growing too. It’s built around people, not algorithms. Unlike traditional social media with its endless ads, click-bait, and drama, GAN Plus is housed on a private network accessible only to members. Whether as a supplement to the brick-and-mortar faith community you attend, or as a means of connection for those of us without an in-person option... GAN Plus is a game-changer! Membership opens June 24 with immediate access to the private community group. Live gatherings begin July 8. I hope to see you there! Dr. Matt (LINK IN THE COMMENTS!) #GANPlus #community #grace #church #Godislove
The #Gospel is as inexhaustible as it is uncomplicated. #Healed people #heal others.
Not a week goes by without at least two or three people sharing with me some variation of the statement, this grace journey is great...but lonely. And honestly, I get it. Ive felt it too. Content is WONDERFUL, but its no substitute for real, genuine, heartfelt COMMUNITY. Having had the courage to step out of the confines of legalistic, performance-driven religion, the isolation that often accompanies that can feel disorienting. BUT NOT ANYMORE!  GAN Plus is a new interactive membership community built around weekly LIVE events. It’s designed to create real connection, consistent spiritual growth, and a sense of belonging. What do I get with membership? ● Multiple weekly live teachings & Q&A with trusted speakers ● Weekly live prayer gatherings ● Round table conversations on timely topics ● Special virtual events throughout the year ● Full replay access to past live events ● Member-only community space GAN Plus isn’t just content. It’s connection. You’re not watching a stream or scrolling a feed — you’re showing up and participating in real time with others who are growing too. It’s built around people, not algorithms. Unlike traditional social media with its endless ads, click-bait, and drama, GAN Plus is housed on a private network accessible only to members. Whether as a supplement to the brick-and-mortar faith community you attend, or as a means of connection for those of us without an in-person option... GAN Plus is a game-changer! Membership opens June 24 with immediate access to the private community group. Live gatherings begin July 8. I hope to see you there! Dr. Matt (LINK IN THE COMMENTS!) #GANPlus #community #grace #church #Godislove
Soon. Very soon. 🧐🙌 #GANPlus #puregrace #community #connection #fellowship
Derived from the Latin, ‘deservire,’ meaning to merit by service, and later the Middle English, ‘deserven’, which means to be entitled to something based on one’s actions, it’s not about what we ‘deserve’, for that word hinges on what we can produce or merit by our own effort. Seeing as we are inexhaustibly loved by Love himself, I’ll take ‘belovedness’ over ‘deserve’ any day of the week…and twice on Sundays. 😉 Jeremiah 31:3 1 John 4:7-21
Brethren, the Gospels still matter! Written AFTER the Epistles, they depict the entirety of Incarnation, conception through ascension. They are not ‘old covenant’, but NEW COVENANT recountings for a NEW COVENANT PEOPLE of two covenants—old and new—colliding. The Epistles present the accomplished reality of living as a new creation. The Gospels paint a picture of how Jesus is the forerunner (and indeed the carrier, source, and distributor) of that new humanity, dropping subtle and not-so-subtle hints as to the radical shift Incarnation will unveil. They are not in contradiction. They exist in complimentary union. I’ll be meditating on this amazing quote from Don for several days. So good!
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Melissa Joy Wood

Professor

Melissa Joy Wood is a fourth generation minister. She has led in the capacities of worship pastor and senior pastor for over a decade. Melissa has an education in Communications and Theology which has afforded her the opportunity to be involved in many successful ventures.
She directed Avenue Revivalist Ministry School, she has taught high school public speaking, she leads marriage conferences with her husband, Rick, and itinerates on occasion. Melissa also authored the highly-acclaimed book, Eliminating Fear: How Removing the Fear of God Leads to Removing Fear in Life. The response to this book led to the development of Fearless Joy Ministries, where she and Rick focus on releasing people into a life free from fear and full of joy through the gospel of Jesus.
Melissa has been married to Rick since 2001, and they have three amazing children. They currently live in Portland, Oregon, where they enjoy life and ministry.